It has been quiet in the Bavarian youth hostels for the past two years. Too calm. Because of the corona pandemic, school trips were canceled or not planned at all. In the hostels, the lack of classes made itself felt not only physically, but also financially. Compared to 2019, according to the Bavarian regional association of the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH), the drop in sales was 60 percent in the first Corona year 2020 – in 2021 it was still 40 percent. Three hostels had to close completely during the pandemic. Since the beginning of March, however, something has been stirring again in the Bavarian hostels. Not because the school classes are back – not yet. But because refugees from Ukraine are currently staying there.
At the beginning of March, the Bavarian regional association of the DJH announced that it was making available beds in the 52 houses for war refugees. “In larger cities like Nuremberg, we have refugees who, depending on the space, can stay for two nights,” says spokesman Marko Junghänel. In seven youth hostels in the Free State, on the other hand, larger capacities are kept free until Easter to give refugees a roof over their heads. These include the youth hostels in Augsburg, Bad Tölz, Trausnitz Castle, Bayreuth, Possenhofen, Pullach and Saldenburg.
Annette Herbinger, manager of the Saldenburg youth hostel in Lower Bavaria, has around 50 places for refugees in her house. “We are a hub between emergency shelters, where people are only allowed to stay for 48 hours, and longer-term apartments,” she describes. The accommodation is currently being financed by the district of Freyung-Grafenau. The hostel has only been open again regularly since March 18, and in addition to Ukrainians, families are also guests again. You will be informed about the accommodation of the refugees before arrival. So far there have been no problems, everyone is “positive”. When looking after the Ukrainians, Herbinger’s team of ten is supported by a security service hired by the district office. “We take care of the laundry, clean the rooms and sometimes provide the children with toys,” explains Herbinger. The security staff organize corona tests for the refugees and help people if they have to make calls to the district office. From April 27th, the Saldenburger hostel management is planning again with school classes and music or sports groups. By then, hopefully all the refugees would have found long-term accommodation, says Herbinger.
Anja Kurth runs the youth hostel in Bayreuth, where refugees from the Ukraine and other guests also live. There are only difficulties with the catering – because of the lack of staff.
(Photo: Robert Pupeter/DJH Bayern)
Since the beginning of March, around 50 refugees have been living in Bayreuth youth hostel, spread over eight rooms. “We have mainly received women with children who want to stay in and around Bayreuth and are looking for an apartment,” describes director Anja Kurth. Kurth sees an advantage of accommodation in the Upper Franconian hostel in the fact that the families have contact with others on the premises and in the dining room. “It is currently problematic with regard to the food,” she describes. “You mustn’t forget that we are a crisis-ridden youth hostel – with a hotel business that had to go on short-time work, as well as several lockdowns and many cancellations.” The problem with the food supply: lack of staff. It is not possible to prepare food three times a day for all guests and also for the Ukrainians who have fled. Nevertheless, the admission of people was a matter of the heart for all employees. The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) is now responsible for catering for the refugees at lunchtime and in the evening. People can stay until April 15th. After Easter, the house is almost fully booked again with other guests and after the holidays also with school classes.
The youth hostel in Kelheim has been closed since 2021. Refugees are now being accommodated there.
(Photo: DJH Bavaria)
Refugees in the district of Kelheim are to be accommodated in a youth hostel for a longer period of time. Here is one of the three DJH hostels that had to close in 2021 – according to press spokesman Junghänel, the already difficult financial situation of the houses in Kelheim, Lohr am Main and Feuchtwangen could not withstand the Corona crisis. This is now benefiting the refugee accommodation. “So far we hadn’t found a buyer for the property,” says Junghänel. The houses in Lohr and Feuchtwangen have now been sold. The hostel in Kelheim is now expected to be reactivated for more than 50 refugees. The district of Kelheim plans to rent the hostel from DJH for a year. The contract has not yet been signed. In addition, according to the district office, the hostel would first have to be cleaned, furnished and equipped with cooking and washing facilities.
Long-term accommodation for refugees was also planned in the Unterallgäu district. The youth hostel in Ottobeuren only wanted to accommodate refugees for the next six months. Existing bookings in Ottobeuren could have been canceled or rebooked to other houses. Junghänel from DJH Bayern describes this consideration as a “dilemma”: “On the one hand, we want to enable school trips for children and young people again, on the other hand, we see the difficult situation of the refugees.” The hostel management and the regional association do not have to face this dilemma after all. The government of Swabia rejected the project, the refugees could be housed elsewhere. School classes can be guests in Ottobeuren after Easter.
Marko Junghänel is spokesman for the Bavarian branch of the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH).
(Photo: DJH Bavaria)
According to Junghänel, normal operations will resume after the Easter holidays in all seven Bavarian hostels that are currently taking in refugees. The booking situation is good. In Bayreuth, the booking numbers would approach those of 2019 again. “We are already benefiting a bit from the situation that flights and petrol are becoming more expensive,” said Anja Kurth. “People definitely want to go on vacation, which is why many Germans will stay in Germany again.” Kurth looks motivated to the coming season.
Junghänel and the national association are also looking positively to 2022: “Our advance bookings are very good and as long as the infection situation does not worsen, we assume that the bookings will remain so.” During the pandemic, the regional association of the DJH received bridging aid from the federal and state governments and has already partially repaid them. “Without the bridging aid – especially that from the federal government – we would still not be able to survive,” says Junghänel. The fact that the free hostel rooms are used by refugees until Easter has a short-term positive side effect from a financial point of view. After Easter, however, the national association can operate on its own again. In all likelihood, Bavarian schoolchildren will then move into their beds in the hostels again. After the holidays, the Ministry of Education’s recommendation to refrain from school trips expires.